Today’s Gratitude List Brings You The # 18

18 Things I am grateful and most thankful for are . . . .

1. Reading The Bible in 90 Days. SM and I are now on day 22 of this reading plan. It has been good to have a partner to go through this program with for 3 reasons. 1. She helps keep me accountable to reading. 2. It is great listening to her insights and observations. It is soooo obvious that the Holy Spirit is guiding her (and me) as she (we) thoughtfully and consistently read. 3. It is fun to learn new things from the video lecture and then discuss them.
2. Bingo to-do list. Tweaking this “fun game” is still helping me stay on track to getting things done.
3. The books of Joshua and Ruth. I love how God shows His faithfulness, power and caring in these books. Many times God encouraged Joshua with words like the following: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
4. Good progress on school papers.
5. Google reader. It allows me to follow many blogs by scanning through most content and slowing down to read those posts that affect me. I should say that I do read all the posts of those on my blogroll.
6. The ancient oak in my front yard. Okay – ancient may be an exaggeration, but she is definitely old, majestic, beautiful and huge. Besides being home to dozens of critters from the microscopic to squirrel-size, she gives my house much lovely, needed shade from the afternoon, HOT westward-drooping sun.
7. The 4 tomatoes in my backyard. Though they are still green on the vine, in a week (maybe 2?) they’ll be sun-ripened and ready to join a cucumber, some sprouts and slices of avocado on toasted wheat bread.
8. Encouraging comments on my blog posts. Thank you.
9. More than surviving these past 6 years. I’ve healed, matured, known and been known by God in a more honest, deeper way.
10. Water. I love drinking clear, clean, plain, room-temperature water. At least 8 cups a day.
11. Clean kitchen windows sporting a clean green and yellow valance.
12. Prince Caspian. More precisely the promise of seeing the Prince Caspian movie soon. I recently reread the book (after an 8 year break). I’m ready to be captured by the Narnia magic.
13. RS feeling better. After some fainting spells, we’ve all been quite worried.
14. Flip flops decorated with fuzzy pink and black yarn. I had fun decorating them several years ago with MW.
15. Walking. I managed to squeeze in a training walk today.
16. Picking plums. From a tree in my yard! I didn’t even know I had a plum tree. I was deep watering the crab apple and lemon tree this a.m. and happened to look up. 6 plums. Not many. Too tart to really enjoy. But plums. Maybe if I fertilize them this year, next year they’ll be sweet and enough to share.
17. Political choice. Even though our system is not perfect, it is for the most part safe and democratic.
18. Men and women in uniform. Thanks to all you men and women who have exhibited and continue to exhibit professionalism and dedication to what your uniform represents.